Shiseido Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 42 with Vitamin C
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Sun protectionSPF 42 · 4 UV filtersBroad spectrum
This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.
This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.
This product can be considered "reef safe" because it does not contain the UV filters (oxybenzone and octinoxate) that can be harmful to coral reefs when present in the water in high concentrations.
Evens skin tone2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Skin Type Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily Skincare Concerns Dark Spots, Dryness, and Dullness Formulation Lightweight Liquid Highlighted Ingredients , Vitamin C Ethyl Visibly improves skin's brightness and targets the look of dark spots.”
This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).
Anti-aging2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Skin Type Normal, Dry, Combination, and Oily Skincare Concerns Dark Spots, Dryness, and Dullness Formulation Lightweight Liquid Highlighted Ingredients , Vitamin C Ethyl Visibly improves skin's brightness and targets the look of dark spots.”
This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 13 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: phytosteryl macadamiate, isododecane.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Perilla ocymoides leaf extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Avobenzone. An organic, or so-called "chemical" UV filter. Protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Needs to be combined with other filters in a formulation to be stable.
More about Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethaneHomosalate10%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not offer meaningful protection against protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen. When used in low concentrations, helps to stabilize the product formulation
More about HomosalateEthylhexyl salicylate5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Octisalate. A UV filter. It offers some protection against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB), but does not protect against the most aging sun rays (UVA). It loses its effectiveness quickly when exposed to sunlight. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about Ethylhexyl salicylateOctocrylene5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneTrisiloxane~30–37%
Water~10–12.2%
Diisopropyl sebacate~5.8–7.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin without creatng a greasy finish
More about Diisopropyl sebacateSilica~4.3–5.3%
Glycerin~3.3–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinAlcohol denat.~2.3–2.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Isododecane~1.9–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
More about IsododecanePeg/ppg-9/2 dimethyl ether~1.5–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps to soften upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethiconeTrimethylsiloxysilicate~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of silicone that helps create a nice product consistency and support the delivery of other ingredients
More about TrimethylsiloxysilicateDextrin palmitate~0.75–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together
More about Dextrin palmitateDisteardimonium hectorite~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of clay that is used to thicken the product consistency
More about Disteardimonium hectoriteTrehalose~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A sugar that attracts water to the upper layer of the skin
More about TrehalosePeg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A type of silicone that helps water and oil mix together
More about Peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethiconePhytosteryl macadamiate~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Phytosteryl macadamiateSodium chloride~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to stabilize mixtures of oil and water, and create thicker, gel-like product textures
More about Sodium chloride2-o-ethyl ascorbic acid~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Aminoethanesulfinic acid~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Dipotassium glycyrrhizate~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening
More about Dipotassium glycyrrhizatePanthenyl ethyl ether~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function
More about Panthenyl ethyl etherSodium polyacrylate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a gel-like product texture, as well as to stabilize emulsions
More about Sodium polyacrylateTocopheryl acetate~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateSodium hyaluronate~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronateSanguisorba officinalis root extract~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Camellia sinensis leaf extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractGarcinia mangostana bark extract~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Perilla ocymoides leaf extract~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin but solid research is lacking. Contains a number of volatile compounds and could be irritating
More about Perilla ocymoides leaf extractSpirulina platensis extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An algae extract. Might help to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and have an anti-oxidant effect
More about Spirulina platensis extractDimethylacrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate crosspolymer~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Butylene glycol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolSilica dimethyl silylate~0.4–0.65%
Trisodium edta~0.3–0.6%
Tocopherol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolBht~0.3–0.5%
Alcohol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholSodium metabisulfite~0.1–0.2%
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extractBarium sulfate~0.25–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium citrate~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
More about Sodium citratePhenoxyethanol~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolParfum~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumIngredient list view
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Octocrylene, Trisiloxane, Water, Diisopropyl sebacate, Silica, Glycerin, Alcohol denat., Isododecane, Peg/ppg-9/2 dimethyl ether, Lauryl peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dextrin palmitate, Disteardimonium hectorite, Trehalose, Peg-9 polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Phytosteryl macadamiate, Sodium chloride, 2-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Aminoethanesulfinic acid, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Panthenyl ethyl ether, Sodium polyacrylate, Tocopheryl acetate, Sodium hyaluronate, Sanguisorba officinalis root extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Garcinia mangostana bark extract, Perilla ocymoides leaf extract, Spirulina platensis extract, Dimethylacrylamide/sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate crosspolymer, Butylene glycol, Silica dimethyl silylate, Trisodium edta, Tocopherol, Bht, Alcohol, Sodium metabisulfite, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Barium sulfate, Sodium citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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Product summary
We assess that "Shiseido - Urban Environment Vita-Clear Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 42 with Vitamin C" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. It can protect from both UVA and UVB rays. This is great news because not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. (UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).
It also works as a moisturizer, so you do not have to use an additional hydrating product. Like all broad-spectrum sunscreens, this product helps prevent early signs of aging.
Sunscreen filters
This is a so-called "chemical" sunscreen. It means that it uses organic UV filters. They typically offer good sun protection and rarely leave a white cast, but they can be irritating for some people with sensitive skin. The UV filters in this sunscreen are: avobenzone 2.30% (declared), octisalate 5.00% (declared), homosalate 10.00% (declared) and octocrylene 5.00% (declared).
Irritation risk
It contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails for 38.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 19 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Safety Assessment of Phytosterols as Used in Cosmeticscir-safety.org
- 5
- 6
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